The Tubular Thermosyphon: Variations on a Theme (Oxford Engineering Science Series)

The tubular thermosyphon is a very simple idea for transferring heat. Fluid inside a tube is circulated by buoyancy forces and thus carries thermal energy from the hot end to the cold end with great efficiency. The device has many uses, from cooling equipment and machinery to recovering waste heat recovery and conserving energy. However the actual operating details of the thermosyphon are more complex and change dramatically with the circumstances. The length and diameter of the tube, the nature and state of the fluid, the strength and variation of the body force field all influence the internal circulation pattern and thus create different operating characteristics. This book deals with each of these variations thoroughly and systematically. Emphasis is placed on the physical principles underlying thermal behavior under single-phase or evaporative conditions, whether the tube is stationary or rotating and whether it is straight or bent. Consideration is also given to other devices having a similar purpose. This study will be of special interest to mechanical, chemical, electrical and geotechnical engineers, and graduate students concerned with thermosyphon technology.